Matsushita Electric profit jumps

By

Phred Dvorak Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Updated Oct. 31, 2005 12:01 a.m. ET

TOKYO -- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. performed strongly in the fiscal second quarter, even as many of its rivals floundered, underscoring how the maker of the Panasonic brand has taken the leading position in Japan's electronics industry.

Matsushita, based in Osaka, on Friday said group net profit for the three months ended Sept. 30 climbed to 31 billion yen ($268 million), up 33% from the same period last year. Operating...